Japanese Prime Minister Abe wins big in national elections

TOKYO (AP) – Japan’s leader has scored a major victory in national elections that returned his ruling coalition to power in decisive fashion.

Japanese media said Monday that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party and a small coalition partner had together secured at least 312 seats in the 465-seat lower house of parliament, passing the 310-barrier for a two-thirds majority. Four seats remained undecided.

The victory boosts Abe’s chances of winning another three-year term next September as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party. That could extend his premiership to 2021, giving him more time to try to win a reluctant public over to his longtime goal of revising Japan’s pacifist constitution.

In the immediate term, the win likely means a continuation of the policies Abe has pursued since he took office in December 2012 – a hard line on North Korea, close ties with Washington, including defense, as well as a super-loose monetary policy and push for nuclear energy. Stocks rose in Tokyo on Monday morning.

Abe’s ruling coalition already has a two-thirds majority in the less powerful upper house. Having a so-called supermajority in both houses gives them virtually a free hand to push even divisive policies and legislation.

Abe said the results indicate that voters support his policies and want to see his political leadership continue.

“I think the results reflected the voters’ preference for a solid political foundation and their expectations for us to push polices forward and achieve results,” Abe told NHK.

With the win, Abe has bounced back from the summer, when his support ratings plunged to 30 percent after accusations of government favoritism to people connected to him. For the first time since he took office nearly five years ago, he appeared vulnerable as both party leader and prime minister.

The ruling coalition’s victory, though, reflects as much the lack of viable alternatives as support for Abe, a fact that he seemed to acknowledge in post-election comments. Turnout was just 54 percent, as typhoon rains lashed much of the country.

“I will humbly face the victory and continue to work humbly and sincerely,” he told NHK, noting lingering public distrust over the scandals.

Abe dissolved the lower house less than a month ago, forcing the snap election. Analysts saw it as an attempt to solidify his political standing at a time when the opposition was in disarray and his support ratings had improved somewhat.

His plan was briefly upstaged by the launch of a new opposition party by populist Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike. But initial excitement faded, and the Party of Hope took only 49 seats.

Another new party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, won 54 seats and looks to be the biggest opposition grouping. It is liberal-leaning, while both the Party of Hope and Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party are more conservative.

Koike called the results “very severe” in a televised interview from Paris, where she is attending a conference of mayors. She said some of her remarks might have been taken negatively by voters, and that she would take the blame.

Abe’s party and its nationalist supporters have advocated constitutional revisions for years. They view the 1947 constitution as the legacy of Japan’s defeat in World War II and an imposition of the victor’s world order and values. The charter renounces the use of force in international conflicts and limits Japan’s troops to self-defense, although Japan has a well-equipped modern military that works closely with the U.S.

Any change to Japan’s constitution, which has never been amended, requires approval first by two-thirds of parliament, and then in a public referendum. Polls indicate that the Japanese public remains opposed to amendment.

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Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this report.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, answers a question from reporter during a TV interview on the ballot counting of the parliamentary lower house election at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections.(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, poses for photos as he marks on the name of one of those elected in the parliamentary lower house election at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chairman of executive Council Fumio Kishida smiles during a TV interview on ballot counting for the lower house elections at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections.(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chairman of executive Council Fumio Kishida, right, and Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai watches a TV monitor during ballot counting for the lower house elections at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections.(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, poses with vice president Masahiko Komura for photos as he marks on the name of one of those elected in the parliamentary lower house election at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, leader of the Party of Hope, speaks to journalists in Paris, France. Exit polls indicated Sunday that Japanese voters have returned Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition to power in national elections. Analysts initially thought that a new opposition party launched by populist Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike could put a dent in the ruling coalition’s majority. (Muneyoshi Someya/Kyodo News via AP)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, poses for photos as he marks on the name of one of those elected in the parliamentary lower house election at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party arrives at ballot counting for the lower house elections at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Election staff members count votes in lower house elections at a ballot counting center in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Election staff members count votes in lower house elections at a ballot counting center in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Election staff members open ballot boxes in lower house elections at a ballot counting center in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Election staff members carry ballot boxes for vote counting in the parliamentary lower house elections at a ballot counting center in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Election staff carry a ballot box for vote counting in the parliamentary lower house elections at a ballot counting center in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Japanese media projected shortly after polls closed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition would win a clear majority in national elections. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
A voter casts her ballot in a general election at a polling station in Tokyo Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Voting has kicked off for Japanâ€™s general election on Sunday that would most likely hand Prime Minister Shinzo Abeâ€™s ruling coalition a win, possibly retaining two-thirds in the parliament. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Voter fills in their ballots in a general election at a polling station in Tokyo Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Voting has kicked off for Japanâ€™s general election on Sunday that would most likely hand Prime Minister Shinzo Abeâ€™s ruling coalition a win, possibly retaining two-thirds in the parliament. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
A voter casts her ballot in a general election at a polling station in Tokyo Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Voting has kicked off for Japanâ€™s general election on Sunday that would most likely hand Prime Minister Shinzo Abeâ€™s ruling coalition a win, possibly retaining two-thirds in the parliament. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
A voter casts her ballot in a general election at a polling station in Tokyo Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Voting has kicked off for Japanâ€™s general election on Sunday that would most likely hand Prime Minister Shinzo Abeâ€™s ruling coalition a win, possibly retaining two-thirds in the parliament. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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